List of best-selling books 2512935 225455235 2008-07-13T19:59:34Z Fram 390477 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225344481 by [[Special:Contributions/76.105.30.152|76.105.30.152]] ([[User talk:76.105.30.152|talk]]) Wikipedia is not a reliable source [[Image:KJV-King-James-Version-Bible-first-edition-title-page-1611.jpg|200px|thumb|right|The [[Book frontispiece|frontispiece]] to the 1611 [[first edition]] of the King James Bible]] This page provides lists of '''best-selling single-volume books, book series, authors''', and '''children's books''' to date and in any language. For some books, accurate accounting has proven impossible, so the book is excluded or an educated guess by an expert is provided. "Best-selling" refers to the estimated number of copies sold of each book, rather than the number of books printed or currently owned. Comics are not included in this list. {{dynamic list}} ==List of best-selling single-volume books== === Claims of at least 1 billion copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author(s) !! Original language !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |''[[Bible]]'' <ref>The Bible listed here refers to all versions ever printed, many of which have been given away freely, not sold (for example, during missionary work).</ref> ([[Koine Greek]] ''τὰ Βίβλια'') || Traditional Judaeo-Christian view: [[Revelation]] by [[God]]<ref>The ''Holy Bible'' is controversial regarding authorship. While many claim it to be in fact a holy book of divine inspiration, secular critics and some biblical scholars do not accept supernatural guidance or authorship. Secular Biblical scholars usually place a creation date closer to 900 B.C. for the earliest texts. Conservative Biblical scholars place the earliest date around 1400 B.C. </ref> to [[Authors of the Bible|various authors]] | [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Koine Greek]], [[Aramaic language|Aramaic]] | [[1st century BC]] to [[1st century AD]], {{see|dating of the Bible}} | 5 to 6 billion<ref name=RussellAsh>''The Top 10 of Everything 2002'' by Russell Ash</ref> |- |- |毛主席语录 ''Máo-zhǔxí yǔlù'' (''[[Quotations from Chairman Mao]]'')|| Quotations from [[Mao Zedong]]; collected by the [[PLA Daily]] of the [[People's Liberation Army]] and signed by [[Lin Biao]]|| [[Chinese language|Chinese]]<br>& 50 languages || 1966 || 5 <ref name=chinascope>[http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/413/131/ CHINASCOPE Magazine] (September, 2005)</ref> to 6.5 billion<ref name=ZhengyuanFu>[http://books.google.com/books?id=uGZIziWmlmsC&pg=PA186&dq=Quotations+from+Chairman+Mao+%226.5+billion%22&as_brr=3&hl=ja&sig=8-PRBeIQMPYUjfDMkXACYtA4yhI Zhengyuan Fu, Autocratic Tradition and Chinese Politics] [[1993]]</ref> |} === Claims between 100 million and 1 billion copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author(s) !! Original language !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |新华字典 (''[[Xinhua Zidian]]'') (Xinhua Dictionary) || Chief editor: [[:zh:魏建功|Wei Jiangong]] || Chinese || 1957 || 400 million<ref>[http://english.people.com.cn/200402/13/eng20040213_134741.shtml 400 million copies of Chinese-character dictionary] &mdash; ''People's Daily''</ref> |- |毛主席诗抄 (''Chairman Mao's Poems'') || Mao Zedong || Chinese || 1966 || 400 million<ref name=ZhengyuanFu>[http://books.google.com/books?id=uGZIziWmlmsC&pg=PA186&dq=Quotations+from+Chairman+Mao+%226.5+billion%22&as_brr=3&hl=ja&sig=8-PRBeIQMPYUjfDMkXACYtA4yhI Zhengyuan Fu, Autocratic Tradition and Chinese Politics] [[1993]]</ref> |- |毛主席文选 (''Selected Articles of Mao Zedong'') || Mao Zedong || Chinese || 1966 || 252.5 million<ref name=chinascope>[http://chinascope.org/main/content/view/413/131/ CHINASCOPE Magazine] (September, 2005)</ref> |- |القرآن ‎(''The [[Qur'an]]'') || Traditional Muslim view: [[Revelation]] by [[Allah]]<ref>The ''Qu'ran'' is controversial regarding authorship. While traditional views claim divine inspiration, secular critics or those of different faith traditions do not accept supernatural guidance or authorship but instead credit Muhammad and others with authorship.</ref> through [[The true angel Gabriel]] to [[Prophets in Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]] || [[Classical Arabic]] || Traditional Muslim view: ~610 - ~632 <ref>Skeptics counter that there exists no verifiable record of the Qur'an's existence prior to 750.</ref> || 200 million, only printed by [[King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur'an]]<ref>[http://www.dicd.gov.ae/vEnglish/detailnewspage.jsp?articleID=7144&newsType=4&pageFlag=0 The Department of Islamic Affairs] [[December 26]] [[2005]]</ref> |- | ''[[A Tale of Two Cities]]'' || [[Charles Dickens]] || [[English (language)|English]] || 1859 || 200 million<ref>[http://www.broadway.com/gen/show.aspx?SI=562611 Broadway.com on ''A Tale of Two Cities'']: "Since its inaugural publication on August 30, 1859, A Tale of Two Cities has sold over 200 million copies in several languages, making it one of the most famous books in the history of fictional literature." ([[24 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Scouting for Boys|Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship]]'' || [[Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell|Robert Baden-Powell]] || English || 1908 || 150 million<ref>Extrapolation for global range of other language publications, and related to the number of [[Scout]]s, make a realistic estimate of 100 to 150 million books. Details from {{cite book | first = Tim | last = Jeal | authorlink = Tim Jeal | title = Baden-Powell | location = London | publisher = [[Hutchinson]] | isbn = 0-09-170670-X}}</ref> |- |''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' || [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] || English || 1954&ndash;1955 || 150 million<ref>''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' is considered by most people to be a single book, because it was written and planned by the author to be such. Some people consider it to instead be a [[trilogy]] or series of three books, because it was originally published as a series of three volumes: ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', ''[[The Two Towers]]'', and ''[[The Return of the King]]''. This move by the publishing house was due largely to post-war paper shortages as well as to minimize the price of the first volume to aid sales. In subsequent printings the book has sometimes appeared as a single volume, and in at least one case was split into seven.[http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=5007234] The figure of 150 million is a 2007 estimate of copies of the full story sold, whether published as one volume, three, or some other configuration.[http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/203389 The Toronto Star] [[16 April]] [[2007]]</ref> |- |''[[Book of Mormon]]'' || Traditional Mormon view: compilation by [[Mormon (prophet)]]<ref>The ''Book of Mormon'' is controversial regarding authorship. While traditional views of the religion claim divine inspiration, secular critics or those of different faith traditions do not accept supernatural guidance to its discovery or authorship by ancient prophets, but instead credit Joseph Smith with authorship.</ref>, revealed to [[Joseph Smith, Jr.]] || English<ref>Smith claimed to have translated the ''Book of Mormon'' from "[[Reformed Egyptian]]" into English; secular critics regard this as false.</ref> || 1830 - || 120 million<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20040708/ai_n11470290 Big N.Y. firm to publish LDS text]</ref> |- |''[[The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life]]'' || [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]<br>([[Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York]]) || [[English language|English]]<br>& 117 languages || [[1968]] || 107 million<ref>''[[Guinness Book of World Records]] 1990'', "Highest Printings". The ''Guinness Book of World Records 1973'', under the heading "Best Sellers", mentioned for the first 4 years of circulation of the book: "The total disposal through non-commercial channels by Jehovah’s Witnesses of the 190-page hardbound book, ''The Truth That Leads to Eternal Life'' [...] reached 46,000,000 in 67 languages by February, 1972." For the latest information, see also ''[[The Watchtower Announcing Jehovah's Kingdom|The Watchtower]]'' January 15, 1997, p. 25.</ref> |- |论三个代表 (''On the Three Representations'') || [[Jiang Zemin]] || Chinese || 2001 || 100 million<ref name=chinascope /> |- |''[[And Then There Were None]]'' || [[Agatha Christie]] || English || 1939 - || 100 million<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/dp/product-description/0312979479 amazon.com]</ref> |- |''[[The Hobbit]]'' || [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] || English || 1937 - || 100 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/dorset/7302101.stm BBC]: Tolkien's memorabilia go on sale. [[March 18]] [[2008]]</ref> |- |紅樓夢 (''[[Dream of the Red Chamber]]'') || [[Cao Xueqin]] || Chinese || 18th century || 100 million <ref>[http://www.china.org.cn/english/culture/151884.htm China.org]: "Sun said that the book has sold over 100 million copies worldwide so far." [[14 December]] [[2005]]</ref> |} === Claims between 50 million and 100 million copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author(s) !! Original language !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |''[[Le Petit Prince]]'' (''The Little Prince'') || [[Antoine de Saint-Exupéry]] || [[French language|French]] || 1943 || 80 million<ref>[http://news.scotsman.com/world/39I-shot-French-literary-hero.3883493.jp The Scotsman] on Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: "SINCE its publication in 1943, The Little Prince has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide. " ([[17 March]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[The Catcher in the Rye]]'' || [[J. D. Salinger]] || English || 1951 || 65 million<ref>[http://www.foyles.co.uk/display.asp?K=9780140237504&aub=J%20D%20Salinger&m=7&dc=9 Foyles]</ref> |- |''O Alquimista'' (''[[The Alchemist (book)|The Alchemist]]'') || [[Paulo Coelho]] || [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] || 1988 || 65 million<ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5i07sUo0IODPVAktHfpCoY4f6kzAQ AFP] on ''The Alchemist'': "Film mogul Harvey Weinstein on Sunday announced the screen adaptation of the novel, written 20 years ago and translated into 56 languages, with more than 65 million copies sold." ([[19 May]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Think and Grow Rich]]'' || [[Napoleon Hill]] || English || 1937 || 60 million<ref>[http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1592802605 amazon.co.uk]</ref> |- |''[[The Da Vinci Code]]'' || [[Dan Brown]] || English || 2003 || 57 million <ref>[http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-louvre14may14 The Los Angeles Times] on ''The Da Vinci Code'': "Officials at the museum aren't publicly linking the dramatic increase in visitation — from about 6 million in 2000 to 7.5 million last year — with the novel, even though 57 million copies of the book are in print in 44 languages." ([[14 May]] [[2006]])</ref> |- |''[[Webster's Dictionary|''Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary]]'' || [[Merriam-Webster]] || English || 1898 || 55 million<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/info/pr/eleventh.htm New Edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary](2003)</ref> |- |''Heidis Lehr- und Wanderjahre'' (''[[Heidi|Heidi's Years of Wandering and Learning]]'') || [[Johanna Spyri]] || [[German language|German]] || 1880 || 50 million<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/stories/s549261.htm ABC Australia] on ''Heidi'': "Johanna Spyri's story has been translated into fifty languages and sold fifty million copies, but the marketing juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down - fat from it. Heidi now has her own theme park." ([[5 August]] [[2002]])</ref> |- |''[[The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care]]'' || Dr. [[Benjamin Spock]] || English || 1946 || 50 million<ref name=RussellAsh /> |- |''[[Anne of Green Gables]]'' || [[Lucy Maud Montgomery]] || English || 1908 || 50 million<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSN1754861220080319 Reuters] on ''Anne of Green Gables'': ""Anne of Green Gables" has sold more than 50 million copies and been translated into 20 languages, according to Penguin." ([[19 March]] [[2008]])</ref> |} === Claims between 30 million and 50 million copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author(s) !! Original language !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |''[[The Hite Report]]'' || [[Shere Hite]] || English || 1976 || 48 million<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-05-15-hite-report_x.htm USA today] ([[15 May]] 2006)</ref> |- |''[[Charlotte's Web]]'' || [[E.B. White]]; illustrated by [[Garth Williams]] || English || 1952 || 45 million<ref>[http://www.walden.com/walden/read/charlotte/eb_white.php Walden Media]</ref> |- |''[[The Tale of Peter Rabbit]]'' || [[Beatrix Potter]] || English || 1902 || 45 million<ref>[http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=105175 Worker's Press acknowledge Frederick Warne's intellectual property rights]</ref> |- |''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]'' <ref> An early press report claimed that more than 72 million copies of "[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]" had been sold within the first 48 hours of publication (see linked citation below). However, there has never been any evidence provided for this claim beyond the original source and it is almost certainly an error. All follow-up sales figures (for instance, those discussed on the separate entry for "[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]") are consistent with total sales figures well below 30 million during the first month of publication. For example, according to Scholastic publishers, there are only 14 million copies of the American edition currently in print, and not all have been sold. At the same time, sales of the American edition were originally reported to be comparable to or greater than the number of copies sold of the British edition. As of September 18, 2007, fewer than 4 million copies of the British edition had been sold in the UK along with a comparable number sold in other countries (reference below). Thus the total number of copies sold as of September 2007 appears to have been approximately 20-25 million. Translations into other languages began appearing in late September 2007, substantially increasing the estimated number of copies sold worldwide. In June 2008, Forbes magazine reported sales had reached 44 million. </ref> || [[J.K. Rowling]] || English || 2007 || 44 million <ref> [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/53/celebrities08_JK-Rowling_CRTT.html The Celebrity 100 #9: J. K. Rowling] "The final one, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has sold 44 million since it was published last July, including 15 million in the first 24 hours."</ref><ref> [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ia424ecde35cd0d81dd5c1ec8fb1c09f6 New 'Potter' sells 72 mil copies worldwide]</ref><ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/sep/19/books.harrypotter Sprechen Sie Potter? How Harry is spreading the English language] </ref> |- |''[[Jonathan Livingston Seagull]]'' || [[Richard Bach]] || English || 1970 || 40 million<ref>[http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=1571744215 Powell's Books]</ref> |- |- |''[[A Message to Garcia]]'' || [[Elbert Hubbard]] || English || 1899 || 40 million<ref name=RussellAsh /> |- |''[[Roget's Thesaurus]]'' || [[Peter Roget]] || English || 1852 - || 40 million<ref>[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/03/25/entertainment/e124825D83.DTL The San Francisco Chronicle] on Peter Roget: "More than 40 million copies have been sold. " ([[25 March]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book]]'' || various authors || English || 1930 - || 38 million <ref>[http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=72940&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=970136&highlight= Meredith Corporation]</ref> |- |''[[You Can Heal Your Life]]'' || [[Louise Hay]] || English || 1984 ||35 million<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/04/magazine/04Hay-t.html The New York Times] on ''You Can Heal Your Life'': "“You Can Heal Your Life” immediately landed on the New York Times best-seller list. More than 35 million copies are now in print around the world." ([[4 May]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''Het Achterhuis'' (''[[The Diary of a Young Girl]]'',''The Diary of Anne Frank'') || [[Anne Frank]] || [[Dutch language|Dutch]] || 1947 || 30 million<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,262525,00.html Fox News] on ''Het Achterhuis'': "Thirty million copies of her diary have been sold, and it has been translated into 65 languages. " ([[29 March]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[In His Steps|In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?]]'' || [[Charles M. Sheldon]] || English || 1896 || 30 million<ref name=RussellAsh /> |- |''[[Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary]]'' || [[A. S. Hornby]] || English || 1948 || 30 million<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/03/06/boll.xml The Telegraph] on the ''Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary'': "Thirty million copies of the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary have been sold since it was first published in 1948. " ([[3 June]] [[2005]])</ref> |- |''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'' || [[Harper Lee]] || English || 1960 || 30 million <ref>[http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/booksmag/orl-harperlee06jun11,0,2989830,full.story?coll=orl_entertainment_booksmag_util The Orlando Sentinel] on ''To Kill a Mockingbird'': "Thirty million copies of To Kill a Mockingbird have been sold since that coming-of-age novel, about a Southern lawyer who believed that no man should be denied justice because of the color of his skin, was first published in 1960 to critical acclaim." ([[11 June]] [[2006]])</ref> |- |''[[Valley of the Dolls]]'' || [[Jacqueline Susann]] || English || 1966 || 30 million<ref name=RussellAsh /> |- |''[[Gone with the Wind]]'' || [[Margaret Mitchell]] || English || 1936 || 30 million <ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/bazbamigboye.html?in_page_id=1794&in_article_id=556688 The Daily Mail] on ''Gone with the Wind'': "The book has sold more than 30 million copies in the decades since the publication of Margaret Mitchell's gripping tale of the Old South gasping its last breath, as the U.S. was torn apart by Civil War and its bitter aftermath." ([[4 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''Cien Años de Soledad'' (''[[One Hundred Years of Solitude]]'') || [[Gabriel García Márquez]] || [[Spanish language|Spanish]] || 1967 || 30 million<ref>[http://www.walrusmagazine.com/articles/2007.12-books-one-hundred-years-of-solitude-marquez/ The Walrus] December 2007 issue</ref><ref>[http://granmai.co.cu/ingles/2007/marzo/mar6/10gabo.html granma.cu] March6, 2007</ref> |- |''[[The Purpose Driven Life]]'' || [[Rick Warren]] || English || 2002 || 30 million<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2914953&page=1 ABC News] on ''The Purpose-Driven Life'': "His book, "The Purpose Driven Life," has been translated into 56 languages and has sold 30 million copies." ([[7 March]] [[2007]])]</ref> |} === Claims between 20 million and 30 million copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author(s) !! Original language !! First published !! Approximate sales !! Genre |- |''[[The Late, Great Planet Earth]]'' || [[Hal Lindsey]], [[C. C. Carlson]] || English || 1970 || 28 million<ref>[http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/nael/20century/topic_3/crystal.htm W.W. Norton and Company]</ref> || Religion/Spirituality |- |''[[Betty Crocker's cook book]]'' || various authors as [[Betty Crocker]] || English || 1955- || 27 million <ref>[http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Betty-Crockers-Cookbook-Everything-You-Betty-Crocker-Editors/9780764560798-item.html chapters.indigo.ca]</ref> || Cookery |- |''[[Rich Dad, Poor Dad]]'' || [[Robert Kiyosaki]] [[Sharon Lechter]] || English || 1997- || 26 million <ref>[http://www.richdad.com/RichDad/RichContent.aspx?cpid=47] Rich Dad Poor Dad Official Web site</ref> || Financial Advice |- |''[[The Very Hungry Caterpillar]]'' || [[Eric Carle]] || English || 1969 || 25 million<ref>[http://www.vbgov.com/vgn.aspx?vgnextoid=1d704bb82deb8110VgnVCM100000190c640a____&vgnextchannel=0b81fd67f3ad9010VgnVCM100000870b640aRCRD&ct=ev The Very Hungry Birthday (ages 3-5) at Bayside Library]</ref> || Children's Fiction |- |''[[The Wind in the Willows]]'' || [[Kenneth Grahame]] || English || 1908 || 25 million<ref>[http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/arts/stories/2008/05/04/2_WILLOWS_100.ART_ART_05-04-08_E4_RPA2K8F.html?sid=101 The Columbus Dispatch] on ''The Wind in the Willows'': "More than 25 million copies of the book have been sold in 70 countries since 1908, according to the Copyrights Group, which is presently promoting a new edition." ([[4 May]] [[2008]])</ref> || Children's Fiction |- |''[[The Celestine Prophecy]]'' || [[James Redfield]] || English || 1993 || 23 million<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/strongselfhelpstrong-celestine-prophecy-author-coming-to-town/2008/03/21/1205602651103.html The Age] on ''The Celestine Prophecy'': "it has sold in the vicinity of 23 million copies since its publication in 1993" ([[22 March]] [[2008]]</ref> || Religion/Spirituality |- | ''[[The Godfather (novel)|The Godfather]]'' || [[Mario Puzo]] || English || 1969 || 21 million <ref>[http://www.thestar.com/Unassigned/article/238311 The Toronto Star] on Mario Puzo: "According to the Official Mario Puzo Library website, the book sold 21 million copies in hardback and paper by 1997." ([[21 July]] [[2007]]) </ref> || Crime |- |新明解国語辞典 (''[[Shin Meikai kokugo jiten]]'') || [[Tadao Yamada]] || [[Japanese language|Japanese]] || 1972 || 20.4 million<ref name=asashi2008>[http://book.asahi.com/clip/TKY200801160127.html Asahi Shimbun] [[January 16]] [[2008]]</ref> || Dictionary |- |狼图腾 (''[[Wolf Totem]]'') || [[Lu Jiamin|Jiang Rong]] || [[Chinese language|Chinese]] || 2004 || 20 million<ref>[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/afc7e59c-ee43-11dc-a5c1-0000779fd2ac.html The Financial Times] on ''Wolf Totem'': "Since it first appeared in 2004, Jiang Rong’s Wolf Totem has sold as many as 20 million copies." ([[15 March]] [[2008]])</ref> || Fiction |- |''English Grammar'' || [[Lindley Murray]] || English || 1795 || 20 million<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/09/books/review/09DERESIE.html The New York Times] ([[9 January]] [[2005]])</ref> || General Reference |- |''[[The Happy Hooker]]: Her Own Story'' || [[Xaviera Hollander]] || English || 1971 || 20 million<ref>[http://www.philly.com/inquirer/magazine/20080626_Philmadelphia.html The Philadelphia Inquirer] on ''The Happy Hooker'': "He said he found it fascinating that her book, which has sold 20 million copies to date, is still being picked up today." ([[26 June]] [[2008]])</ref> || Autobiography |} === Claims between 10 million and 20 million copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author(s) !! Original language !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |''[[Fear of Flying (novel)|Fear of Flying]]'' || [[Erica Jong]] || English || 1973 || 18 million <ref>[http://www.newyorker.com/talk/2008/04/14/080414ta_talk_mead The NEw Yorker] on Erica Jong: "Erica Jong, the novelist, essayist, and poet, has long lamented that “Fear of Flying,” which has sold more than eighteen million copies worldwide since it was published, in 1973, has overshadowed the remainder of her sizable oeuvre." ([[14 April]] [[2008]], online [[7 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[The Joy of Cooking]]'' || various authors || English || 1936 || 18 million <ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/01/dining/01joy.html New York Times] November 1, 2006</ref> |- |英語基本単語集 (''Eigo Kihon Tangoshu'') || [[Yoshio Akao]] || Japanese, English || 1942 || 17.2 million<ref name=NKS2005>[[Nihon Keizai Shimbun]] morning edition, [[10 January]] 2005.</ref> |- |''[[Goodnight Moon]]'' || [[Margaret Wise Brown]] || English || 1947 || 16 million<ref>[http://www.playthings.com/article/CA6431998.html Playthings] ([[1 April]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[Guess How Much I Love You]]'' || [[Sam McBratney]] || English || 1994 || 15 million<ref name=rjmlicensing>[http://www.rjmlicensing.com/clients.html RJM Licensing]</ref> |- |''[[The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People]]'' || [[Stephen R. Covey]] || English || 1989 || 15 million<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/home_asia/2003/05/15/cx_da_0515selfhelp.html Forbes] on Covey: "The original title has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide" ([[15 May]] [[2003]]</ref> |- |''[[Shōgun (novel)|Shōgun]]'' || [[James Clavell]] || English || 1975 || 15 million<ref>[[Time (magazine)|Time]] November 26, 1990.</ref> |- |試験に出る英単語 (''Siken Ni Deru Eitango'') || [[Ichiro Mori]] || Japanese, English || 1967 || 15 million<ref>[http://www.okwave.co.jp/news/press_log/2006/1006.html OK Wave] ([[6 October]] 2006)</ref> |- |''[[The Poky Little Puppy]]'' || [[Janette Sebring Lowrey]] || English || 1942 || 15 million<ref>[http://jp.bookmooch.com/detail/0307748057 Golden Books : Poky Little Puppy (Little Golden Book)]</ref> |- |''[[The Pillars of the Earth]]'' || [[Ken Follett]] || English || 1989 || 15 million<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/07/sunday/main3339866.shtml?source=search_story CBS] on Ken Follett: "But since it was published in 1989, "The Pillars of the Earth" has become an international sensation, selling 15 million copies worldwide." ([[7 October]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[How to Win Friends and Influence People]]'' || [[Dale Carnegie]] || English || 1936 || 15 million <ref>[http://www.financialpost.com/money/story.html?id=423190 The Financial Post] on Dale Carnegie: "Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People, the gold standard of the genre, has sold more than 15 million copies since it was first published in 1937." ([[5 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''Das Parfum'' (''[[Perfume (novel)|Perfume]]'') || [[Patrick Süskind]] || [[German (language)|German]] || 1985 || 15 million <ref>[http://ledger.southofboston.com/articles/2007/01/05/life/life01.txt The Patriot Ledger] on ''Perfume'': "Yet the scene, like the movie, is so daring, so challenging, you cannot help but respect Tykwer’s unerring desire to remain true to the source novel, a book that has sold 15 million copies and has been credited with inspiring Kurt Cobain to write the Nirvana classic ‘‘Scentless Apprentice.’’" ([[5 January]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[What to Expect When You're Expecting]]'' || [[Arlene Eisenberg]] and [[Heidi Murkoff]] || English || 1984 || 15 million<ref>[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hMx5fbJyqMnZYVtxbdhK7HK6uflQD901S23G0 The Associated Press] on ''What to Expect When You're Expecting'': "it's been on the New York Times best-seller list for 355 weeks, with nearly 15 million copies in print" ([[14 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Tuesdays with Morrie]]'' || [[Mitch Albom]] ||English || 1997 || 14 million <ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2008-04-07-pausch_N.htm USA Today] on ''Tuesdays with Morrie'': "The book has sold more than 14 million copies worldwide since 1997 and became an Oprah Winfrey-produced TV movie. " ([[8 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[God's Little Acre]]'' || [[Erskine Caldwell]] ||English || 1933 || 14 million <ref>[http://id.mind.net/~fletch/biography.html Erskine Caldwell Biography]</ref> |- |''[[The Outsiders (novel)|The Outsiders]]'' || [[S. E. Hinton]] || English || 1967 || 13 million <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Sep29/0,4670,BooksSEHinton,00.html Fox News] on ''The Outsiders'': "According to Viking, a division of Penguin Group USA, "The Outsiders" has sold more than 13 million copies and still sells more than 500,000 a year." ([[29 September]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'' || [[Roald Dahl]] || English || 1964 || 13 million<ref>[http://www.calendarlive.com/movies/turan/cl-et-charlie15jul15,0,150671.story Los Angeles Times] July 15, 2005</ref> |- |新英和中辞典 (''Shin Eiwa Chu Jiten'') || [[Shigeru Takebayashi]] || Japanese, English || 1967 || 12 million<ref>[http://www.technocraft.co.jp/press/2006/0210_yakushi.html Techno Craft] ([[10 February]] 2006)</ref> |- | ''[[Peyton Place (novel)|Peyton Place]] '' || [[Grace Metalious]] || English || 1956 || 12 million <ref>[http://www.thestar.com/Unassigned/article/238311 The Toronto Star] on Grace Metalious: "It sold 100,000 copies in its first month and went on to sell another 12 million copies, was made into a film and eventually into a prime-time television series that made the young Mia Farrow a star." ([[21 July]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[Dune (novel)|Dune]]'' || [[Frank Herbert]] || English || 1965 || 12 million<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9104367/Frank-Herbert Britannica] on ''Dune'': "the epic Dune (1965; filmed by David Lynch in 1984), which was translated into 14 languages and sold some 12 million copies, more than any other science-fiction book in history;" ([[24 November]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''La Peste'' (''[[The Plague]]'') || [[Albert Camus]] || [[French (language)|French]] || 1947 || 12 million <ref>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/09/content_7944793.htm China View] on ''La Peste'': "Translated into 28 languages, the book has sold more than 12 million copies around the world." ([[9 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[The Naked Ape]]'' || [[Desmond Morris]] || English || 1968 || 12 million<ref>[http://www.sundayherald.com/life/people/display.var.1945224.0.monkey_man.php?act=login The Sunday Herald] on ''The Naked Ape'': "Morris is still flabbergasted that the book caused such a furore, although the publicity helped it sell 12 million copies." ([[11 March]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[The Bridges of Madison County]]'' || [[Robert James Waller]] || English || 1992 || 12 million<ref>[http://www.madisoncounty.com/novel.html The Novel<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |- |旺文社古語辞典 (''Obunsha Kogo Jiten'') || [[Akira Matsumura]] || Japanese || 1960 || 11 million<ref>[http://www.obunsha.co.jp/service/jisho-2007/kogo/kogo_35.html Obunsha] (2007)</ref> |- |''[[Things Fall Apart]]'' || [[Chinua Achebe]] || English || 1958 || 11 million<ref>[http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=16&art_id=63036&sid=18059567&con_type=3&d_str=&fc=10 The Standard] on Chinua Achebe: "That Things Fall Apart, published in 1958, would sell about 11 million copies in about 45 languages?" ([[14 March]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |広辞苑 (''[[Kōjien]]'') || [[Izuru Shinmura]] || Japanese || 1955 || 11 million<ref>[http://www.j-cast.com/2007/10/24012504.html J-CAST News] (October 24, 2007)</ref><ref name=asashi2008 /> |- |''[[The Exorcist]]'' || [[William Peter Blatty]] || English || 1971 || 11 million <ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118972984449527200.html?mod=googlenews_wsj The Wall Street Journal] on ''The Exorcist'': "Back in the 1970s, those smaller, rack-sized paperbacks were the blockbusters of the business, led by such best sellers as William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist" (11 million copies sold); Peter Benchley's "Jaws" (more than nine million copies), and Sidney Sheldon's "The Other Side of Midnight" (six million copies plus)." ([[14 September]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[Catch-22]]'' || [[Joseph Heller]] || English || 1961 || 10 million<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/pmextra/dec99/13/heller.htm 'Catch-22' Author Joseph Heller Dies]</ref> |- |三省堂国語辞典 (''[[Sanseido Kokugo Jiten]]'') || [[Kenbō Hidetoshi]] || Japanese || 1960 || 10 million<ref>[http://www.sanseido-publ.co.jp/publ/dicts/fuku_meikoku.html Sanseido]</ref> |- |''[[Eye of the Needle]]'' || [[Ken Follett]] || English || 1978 || 10 million<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=xkGlUNW09eEC&pg=PA44&dq=%22eye+of+the+needle%22+%2210+million+copies%22&ei=lI70R7TpJYWwzgSGgvnIAQ&sig=_3n61rMQugtQjVN8U--Wd2Cvw7g Carlos Ramet in ''Ken Follett: The Transformation of a Writer''] page 44 on Ken Follett: "The first two editions alone sold over 10 million copies worldwide" (1999)</ref> |- | ''[[A Brief History of Time]]'' || [[Stephen Hawking]] || English || 1988 || 10 million <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/26/whawking126.xml The Telegraph] on Stephen Hawking: "Prof Hawking is the author of A Brief History of Time — which has sold 10 million copies — and is currently writing two books." ([[27 April]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[The Cat in the Hat]]'' || [[Dr. Seuss]] || English || 1957 || 10 million <ref>[http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=590928 The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] on ''The Cat in the Hat'': "There are more than 10 million copies in print today in more than a dozen languages, including the Latin, "Cattus Petasatus."" ([[14 April]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[The Lovely Bones]]'' || [[Alice Sebold]] || English || 2002 || 10 million <ref>[http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/1098660 TVNZ] on ''The Lovely Bones'': "Published in 2002, Lovely Bones is the second novel by Alice Sebold, and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, remaining on the New York Times hardback bestseller list for over a year." ([[5 May]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[Wild Swans]]'' || [[Jung Chang]] || English || 1992 || 10 million <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/07/21/nosplit/bochina121.xml The Telegraph] on ''Wild Swans'': "Selling more than 10 million copies and topping the "most borrowed historical biography" chart in British libraries year after year, it proved a publishing phenomenon" ([[21 July]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |''[[Santa Evita]]'' || [[Tomás Eloy Martínez]] || [[Spanish (language)|Spanish]] || 1995 || 10 million <ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9389979/Martinez-Tomas-Eloy Britannica] on ''Santa Evita'': "Martínez was best known as the author of two classics of Argentine and Latin American literature: La novela de Perón (1985, The Perón Novel, 1988) and Santa Evita (1995, Eng. trans., 1995); the latter was translated into 30 languages and sold more than 10 million copies." ([[22 November]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |家庭に於ける實際的看護の秘訣 (''Katei Ni Okeru Jissaiteki Kango No Hiketsu'') || [[Takichi Tsukuda]] || Japanese || 1925 || 10 million<ref>[http://www.ne.jp/asahi/matsukinpapa/ucd/tukudaT1.html Tsukuda Takichi Akahon No Page]</ref> |- |''[[Night (book)|Night]]'' || [[Elie Wiesel]] || [[Yiddish]] || 1958 || 10 million<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/books/review/Donadio-t.html?_r=1&ref=books&pagewanted=all The New York Times] on ''Night'': "Indeed, since it appeared in 1960, “Night” has sold an estimated 10 million copies — three million of them since Winfrey chose the book in January 2006 (and traveled with Wiesel to Auschwitz)." ([[20 January]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Who Moved My Cheese?]]'' || [[Spencer Johnson (writer)|Spencer Johnson]] || English || 1998 || 10 million<ref>[http://www.theindependent.com/stories/02272008/new_cheese27.shtml The Grand Island Independent] on ''Who Moved My Cheese'': "It soon become an international bestseller, with 1 million hardcover copies in print within the first 16 months and more than 10 million copies within the next two years." ([[27 February]] [[2008]]</ref> |- |''[[The Kite Runner]]'' || [[Khaled Hosseini]] || English || 2003 || 10 million<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3721678.ece The Times] on ''The Kite Runner'': "His first novel, The Kite Runner, sold 10 million copies." ([[11 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |La sombra del viento (''[[The Shadow of the Wind]]'') || [[Carlos Ruiz Zafón]] || Spanish || 2001 || 10 million<ref>[http://www.carlosruizzafon.com/esp/ultima.htm Web Oficial de Carlos Ruiz Zafón] on ''La Sombra del Viento'': "Publicada por Editorial Planeta en mayo de 2001, lleva vendidos más de 10 millones de ejemplares" ([[2006]])</ref> |- |于丹《论语》心得 (''[[Professor Yu Dan Explains the Analects]]'') || [[Yu Dan]] || [[Chinese (language)|Chinese]] || 2006 || 10 million<ref>[http://www.thebookseller.com/news/56659-macmillans-100k-chinese-deal.html Bookseller.com] on Yun Da: "" ([[14 April]] [[2008]]) </ref> |- |''[[The Total Woman]]'' || [[Marabel Morgan]] || English || 1974 || 10 million<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=4651272&page=1 ABC News] on ''The Total Woman'': "One of the first books to address the issue was Marabel Morgan's "The Total Woman," which sold more than 10 million copies to women of all religious persuasions, making it the best-selling nonfiction book of 1974." ([[15 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |知価革命 (''[[Knowledge-value Revolution]]'') || [[Taichi Sakaiya]] || Japanese || 1985 || 10 million<ref>[http://www.waseda.jp/wnfs/magazine/special/070108/index.html Waseda University]</ref> |- |''[[Mein Kampf]]'' || [[Adolf Hitler]] || German || 1925-1926 || 10 million<ref>[http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article3671877.ece Times Online] on ''Mein Kampf: "Although about ten million copies of the book had been distributed by the end of the war – every newlywed couple in the Third Reich received a copy – it can now be found only in secondhand bookshops, where it can be legally sold providing there is no swastika on the cover." ([[25 April]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''Manifest der Kommunistischen Partei'' (''[[The Communist Manifesto]]'') || [[Karl Marx]] and [[Friedrich Engels]] || German || 1848 || 10 million<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=vve_ekMAt7oC&pg=PT183&dq=The+Communist+Manifesto++%22million+copies%22&as_brr=3&hl=ja&sig=o4RG3CEmZXTVdd33l8VK-kDgUyo Hiroshi Uchida, Terrell Carver, Marx for the 21st Century] 2006</ref> |- |中国社会主义经济问题研究 (''Problems in China's Socialist Economy'') || [[Xue Muqiao]] || Chinese || 1979 || 10 million<ref>[http://finance.people.com.cn/GB/42774/3586529.html people.com.cn] (August 2, 2005)</ref> |} === Notes === 毛主席语录 ([[Quotations from Chairman Mao]]) was previously listed with 5 <ref name=chinascope /> to 6.5 billion <ref name=ZhengyuanFu /> copies, but the cited sources used that estimate for copies ''printed'', not copies ''sold'', as the opening paragraph explains is the criteria and purpose of this article. ==List of best-selling book series== === Claims of at least 100 million copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author !! Original language !! No. of installments !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |''[[Harry Potter]]'' || [[J. K. Rowling]] || [[English language|English]] || 7 || 1997 — 2007 || over 400 million, also with [[Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them]] and [[Quidditch Through the Ages]] <ref>http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article2784397.ece J.K. Rowling publishes Harry Potter spin-off November 1 [[2007]])</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Potter tops 400 million sales|author=Flood, Alison|work=theBookseller.com|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/61161-page.html|date=2008-06-17|accessdate =2008-06-17}} </ref> |- |毛泽东选集 (''Selected Works of Mao Zedong'', ''Selections of Mao Zedong's Works'') || Mao Zedong || Chinese || 4 || 1966 || 326.22 million<ref name=chinascope /> to 3.36 billion<ref name=ZhengyuanFu /> |- |''[[New Park Street Chapel|The New Park Street Pulpit]]'' and ''[[Metropolitan Tabernacle|The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit]]'' ''Penny Sermons'' || [[Charles Haddon Spurgeon]] || English || 3,561 || 1854 — 1917 || over 300 million<ref>[http://www.spurgeon.org/eschat.htm Charles H. Spurgeon and Eschatology]</ref> |- |''[[Goosebumps]]'' || [[R. L. Stine]] || English || 62 || 1992 — 1998 || 300 million<ref>[http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=ac2mPyMaeXrc&refer=japan Bloomberg] on ''Goosebumps'': "More than 300 million copies of ``Goosebumps'' books have been sold worldwide, making them the second-best selling children's series after ``Harry Potter,'' the companies said." ([[15 May]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Berenstain Bears]]'' || [[Stan and Jan Berenstain]] || English || over 300 || 1962 — present || 260 million <ref>[http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117864900.html?categoryid=1242&cs=1 Variety] on the ''Berenstain Bears'': "The company also is offering a new animated series based on the Berenstain Bears, the hugely popular children's brand that has sold more than 260 million books worldwide." ([[7 April]] [[2002]])</ref> |- |''[[Choose Your Own Adventure]]'' || various authors || English || 185 || 1979 — 1998 || 250 million <ref>[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060822.gtstory0822/BNStory/Technology/?cid=al_gam_nletter_dtechal The Globe and Mail] on ''Choose Your Own Adventure'': "The Choose Your Own Adventure DVD movies are adaptations of the original books, which sold more than 250 million copies. " ([[22 August]] [[2006]])</ref> |- |''[[Sweet Valley High]]'' || [[Francine Pascal]] and ghostwriters || English || 400 || 1983 - || 250 million <ref>[http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2002/1028/114.html Forbes] on ''Sweet Valley High'': "But despite 250 million copies in print, in 25 languages, Sweet Valley's sugar rush has been on the decline. " ([[28 October]] [[2002]])</ref> |- |''[[Noddy]]'' || [[Enid Blyton]] || English || 24 || 1949 - present || 200 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/531557.stm Happy 50th birthday Noddy]</ref> |- |''[[Nancy Drew]]'' || various authors as [[Carolyn Keene]] || English || 175 || 1930 — present || 200 million<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/2002/2002-05-29-nancy-drew-author-obit.htm USA Today] on ''Nancy Drew'': "The series is still in print and has sold over 200 million books in 17 languages." ([[29 May]] [[2002]])</ref> |- |''[[The Baby-sitters Club]]'' || [[Ann Martin]] || English || 335 || 1986 — present || 172 million<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=edrVnwGPUfEC&pg=PA115&dq=million-books&lr=&ei=WYriR76UD4HwjAGVp9nWBA&sig=K1mXEngkQ06dgnel3UPb16Eb-fs Benjamin M. Compaine and Douglas Gomery], 'Who Owns the Media?: Competition and Concentration in the Mass Media Industry' page 115"</ref> |- |''[[Star Wars]]'' || various authors || English || over 200 || 1977 — present || 160 million <ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB111238313723995681.html?mod=googlewsj The Wall Street Journal] on the ''Star Wars'' books: "According to a Random House spokesman, the publisher has more than 160 million copies of "Star Wars" books in print." ([[1 April]] [[2005]])</ref> |- |''[[Peter Rabbit]]'' || [[Beatrix Potter]] || English || 6 || 1902&ndash;1930 || 150 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/entertainment/3014176.stm Peter Rabbit in China copyright stew]</ref> |- |''[[The McGuffey Readers]]'' || [[William Holmes McGuffey]] || English || || 1853 || 125 million<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=BtGzlMatpUUC&pg=PA439&dq=125-million-copies&lr=&ei=x4LzR9zABYKWzATf_fHJCw&sig=ZrvbFvcxhs05I1Cs4E1h-ZiGjYo William Joseph Federer, ''America's God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations''], page 439, on William Holmes McGuffey: "As of 1963,125 million copies had been sold" (1996)</ref> |- |''[[Frank Merriwell]]'' || [[Gilbert Patten]] || English || 209 || 1896 - || 125 million<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=dVSElxOM3K8C&pg=PA53&dq=125-million-copies&lr=&ei=x4LzR9zABYKWzATf_fHJCw&sig=8KN8zuhqePX8USPJ5SCwaip4i2s Susan Edgerton e.a. in ''Imagining the Academy: Higher Education and Popular Culture''] page 53, on Gilbert Patten: "It is estimated that at least 125 million copies of the Frank Merriwell series (which itself ran to at least 209 books) were sold." (2004)</ref> |- |''[[Dirk Pitt]]'' || [[Clive Cussler]] || English || 19 || 1973 — present || 120 million<ref>[http://us.penguingroup.com/static/packages/us/clivecussler/news3.html Crusader Entertainment Acquires the Rights to Clive Cussler's Best-Selling Dirk Pitt® Book Series]</ref> |- |宮本武蔵 (''[[Musashi (novel)|Musashi]]'') || [[Eiji Yoshikawa]] || [[Japanese language|Japanese]] || 7 || 1935&ndash;1939 || 120 million<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C04E0D61639F930A2575AC0A967948260&sec=&pagewanted=all WAY OF THE SAMURAI, PATH OF THE TEDIOUS]</ref> |- |''[[American Girl (company)|American Girl]]'' || various authors || English || || 1986 — present || 120 million<ref>[http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_8629008?source=most_emailed The Berkshire Eagle] on ''American Girl'': "This extraordinary success has resulted in over 120 million books and 14 million dolls sold (at $90 a pop these days)" ([[20 March]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'' || [[C. S. Lewis]] || English || 7 || 1949&ndash;1954 || 120 million<ref>[http://www.manhattan-institute.org/html/_chicsuntimes-hollywood.htm Hollywood's liberal losses] ([[November 20]] 2005)</ref> |- |''[[Clifford the Big Red Dog]]'' || [[Norman Bridwell]] || English || || 1963 — present || 110 million<ref>[http://www.hultcenter.org/event.asp?id=4348 Hult Presents: Clifford The Big Red Dog LIVE!]</ref> |- |''[[James Bond]]'' || [[Ian Fleming]] || English || 14 || 1953&ndash;1966 || over 100 million<ref>[http://www.007.info/News88.asp James Bond 007 - News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |- |''[[Chicken Soup for the Soul]]'' || [[Jack Canfield]], [[Mark Victor Hansen]] || English || over 105 || 1997 — present || 100 million<ref>[http://www.beliefnet.com/releases/CSSreleasefinal.pdf BELIEFNET.COM AND CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL® JOIN FORCES TO LAUNCH AND PUBLISH EXCLUSIVE CO-BRANDED DAILY NEWSLETTERS]</ref> |- |''[[Mr. Men]]'' || [[Roger Hargreaves]], [[Adam Hargreaves]] || English || 43 || 1971 — present || 100 million<ref>[http://production.investis.com/chorion/media/pressreleases/2005/2005-07-26/ Chorion PLC announces new Mr. Men & Little Miss characters]</ref> |- |''[[Guinness World Records]]'' (published every year)|| various authors || English || 53 || 1955 — present || 100 million<ref>[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/arts_and_media/books_and_magazines/best_selling_copyright_book.aspx Guinness World Records - Arts & Media - Books & Magazines - Best Selling Copyright Book]</ref> |- |''[[American Spelling Book]]'' ([[Webster's Dictionary]]) || [[Noah Webster]] || English || || 1783 || 100 million<ref name=RussellAsh /> |} === Claims between 50 million and 100 million copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author !! Original language !! No. of installments !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |''[[The Railway Series]]'' (''Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends'') || [[W.V. Awdry]], [[Christopher Awdry]] || [[English language|English]] || || 1945&ndash;1996 || 90 million<ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2006/04/21/stories/2006042100170300.htm The Hindu Business Line : Carry on, Thomas]</ref> |- |''Nijntje'' (''[[Miffy]]'') || [[Dick Bruna]] || [[Dutch language|Dutch]] || || 1955 — present || 85 million<ref>[http://www.expatica.com/actual/article.asp?subchannel_id=34&story_id=43185 Nijntje’s creator turns 80]</ref> |- |''[[World Almanac]]'' (published every year)|| various authors || English || 121 || 1868 — 1876; 1886 - present || 80 million<ref>[http://www.worldalmanac.com/world-almanac.aspx The World Almanac - The World Almanac and Book of Facts 2008]</ref> |- |''[[Fear Street]]'' || [[R. L. Stine]] || English || || 1989 — present || 80 million<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=jibjFgTYKKcC&pg=RA9-PA8&dq=%22220+million+copies%22&lr=&ei=nJj0R9KXB4zcygT5rdDLAQ&sig=YHH8Ivavon9oxJAsC0O7S1QWONc Luisa Gerasimo e.a. in ''The Teacher's Calendar of Famous Birthdays''] page 8, on R. L. Stine: "That year he also created ''Fear Street'', the first horror series for teenagers, which sold 80 million copies." (2003)</ref> |- |''[[Winnie-the-Pooh]]'' || [[A. A. Milne]]; illustrated by [[E. H. Shepard]] || English || 4 || 1926&ndash;1928 || 70 million<ref>[http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/newsletter/jul2001/index.html Disney Video and DVD Insider<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |- |''[[Left Behind (series)|Left Behind]]'' || [[Tim LaHaye]], [[Jerry B. Jenkins]] || English || 16 || 1996 — present || 65 million<ref>[http://www.leftbehind.com/ Left Behind: Home]</ref> |- |''[[Arch Books]]'' (Lantern Books) || various authors || English || || 1958 — present || 58 million<ref>[http://www.christianitytoday.com/tc/9r5/9r5062.html Today's Christian]</ref> |- |''[[Discworld]]'' || [[Terry Pratchett]] || English || 36 || 1983 - present || 55 million<ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h_wku-8Lvp-OcJ_1BPpcjM1m3VaQ AFP] on Terry Pratchett: "The 59-year-old author -- whose Discworld books have sold 55 million copies worldwide and have been translated into some 27 languages -- announced in December that he had been diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy, a rare form of the degenerative brain disease." ([[13 March]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Magic Tree House series]]'' || [[Mary Pope Osborne]] || English || 39 || 1992 - present || 53 million<ref>[http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources&id=6046936 ABC7 Chicago] on Mary Pope Osborne: "Since its debut in 1992, the mega-bestselling Magic Tree House series has sold nearly 53 million copies in North America, securing its coveted spot on the Publishers Weekly bestseller list as one of the top 5 bestselling series." ([[28 March]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Twilight (series)]]'' || [[Stephenie Meyer]] || English || 3 || 2005 — present || 50 million<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1583085/story.jhtml MTV] on ''Twilight'': "with more than 50 million books sold and a fast-rising ranking as one of the top 30 best-selling book series of all time" ([[March 11]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus]]'' || [[John Gray (U.S. author)|John Gray]] || English || 15 || 1992 - present || 50 million<ref>[http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/2/24/lifebookshelf/20404808&sec=lifebookshelf The Star] on the ''Mars Venus'' series: " You must be from another planet if you have not heard of Gray and his Mars Venus universe. Fifty million of his books have been sold in 40 different languages." ([[February 24]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[The Hardy Boys]]'' || various authors as [[Franklin W. Dixon]] || English || 58 || 1927-79 || 50 million<ref>[http://hardyboysunofficial.blogspot.com/ The Unofficial Hardy Boys Home Page, "from the publisher McFarland & Company":] In its 80 year history, the Hardy Boys series has sold over 50 million books in over 25 languages ([[February 20]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[The Bobbsey Twins]]'' || various authors as [[Laura Lee Hope]] || English || 72 || 1904-79 || 50 million<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE2D6123AF934A2575BC0A961948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1 The New York Times: The Bobbsey Twins Carry On (And On and On)] "...a series of more than 70 books for children 7 to 9 years old that has sold more than 50 million copies worldwide." ([[August 17]] [[1987]])</ref> |- |アンパンマン (''[[Anpanman]]'') || [[Takashi Yanase]] || [[Japanese language|Japanese]] || over 678 || 1970 — present || 50 million<ref>[http://www.shinbunka.co.jp/kakonews/2006/kako06-09.htm Shinbunka] (September 25, 2006)</ref> |- |''[[Tarzan]]'' || [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]] || English || 26 || 1914&ndash;1995 || 50 million<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=kd8WqdD7qIUC&pg=PA70&dq=Tarzan+%22million+copies%22&lr=&as_brr=3&hl=ja&sig=L4WqSuBNtDE-pPtPMMGguDtsA6g Screening Difference: How Hollywood's Blockbuster Films Imagine Race] Jaap Van Ginneken, 2007</ref> |- |''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' || [[Lemony Snicket]] aka [[Daniel Handler]] || English || 13 || 1999&ndash;2006 || 50 million<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/books/10/05/handler.snicket/index.html CNN] (October 5, 2006)</ref> |} === Claims between 30 million and 50 million copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author !! Original language !! No. of installments !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |''[[Where's Wally?]]''<ref>U.S. title: Where's Waldo?</ref> || [[Martin Handford]] || English || 13 || 1987 - present || 46 million<ref>[http://www.brandweek.com/bw/magazine/current/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003813655 Brandweek] on ''Where's Waldo'': "At 46 million books sold, Waldo is the second best-selling book series behind Harry Potter." ([[9 June]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[A Child's First Library of Learning]]'' || various authors || English || || 1980 - || 45 million<ref>[http://www.english-time.com/revamp/region/en/aboutus/index.asp A Child's First Library of Learning]</ref> |- |''[[Junie B. Jones]]'' || [[Barbara Park]] || English || || 1992 - || 44 million<ref>[http://alamedasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3501&Itemid=31 The Alameda Sun] on ''Junie B. Jones'': "The series, launched in 1992, offers 27 books and an interactive journal, and has sold 44 million copies around the world." ([[27 June]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |''[[Jack and Betty]]'' || [[Kairyudo]] || English || || 1948 || 40 million<ref>[http://www.kairyudo.co.jp/05_company/index.htm Kairyudo]</ref> |- |<font lang=ko>[[:ko:수학의 정석|수학의 정석]] (數學의 定石)</font> (''mathematics reference book'') || [[Hong Sung-dae]] || [[Korean language|Korean]] || || 1966 - present || 37 million<ref>[http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2008/03/178_10393.html The Korea Times] ([[September 18]] 2007)</ref> |- |连环画 铁道游击队 (''Picture-and-story book [[Railway Guerrillas]]'') || original author: [[:zh:刘知侠|Liu Zhixia]] || Chinese || 10 || 1955&ndash;1962 || 36.52 million<ref>[http://www.rmhb.com.cn/chpic/htdocs/english/200610/6-2.htm CHINA PICTORIAL] October 2006</ref> |- |''[[Paddington Bear]]'' || [[Michael Bond]] || English || 70 || 1958 - present || 35 million<ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1023569/Bear--Paddington-celebrates-50th-new-book.html Daily Mail] on ''Paddington Bear'': "To date, Paddington books have sold more than 35 million copies worldwide and are available in more than 40 languages." ([[2 June]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |できるシリーズ (''Dekiru Series'') || [[:ja:インプレス|Impress]] Dekiru Series Editorial Desk || Japanese || || 1994 - present || 30 million<ref>[http://dekiru.impress.co.jp/books/ Impress] </ref> |- |[[:ja:徳川家康 (山岡荘八)|徳川家康]] (''[[Tokugawa Ieyasu (Sohachi Yamaoka's novel)|Tokugawa Ieyasu]]'') || [[Sohachi Yamaoka]] || [[Japanese language|Japanese]] || 26 || 1950&ndash;1967 || 30 million<ref>[http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/indexp.cgi?AC=1-101100 徳川家康(1)出生乱離の巻]</ref> |- |Le guide Michelin France (''[[Michelin Guide|The Michelin Guide]] France'') (published every year)|| various authors || French || 109 || 1900 - present || 30 million<ref>[http://www.maptrade.org/docs/mapreport/2004-05-MapReport.pdf Map Repoat May 2004] "The Michelin Guide France 2004 Celebrates Its. 30 Millionth Copy", p.20</ref> |} === Claims between 20 million and 30 million copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author !! Original language !! No. of installments !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |''[[Rich Dad, Poor Dad]]'' || [[Robert Kiyosaki]], [[Sharon Lechter]] || English || || 2000 - present || 28 million<ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08052/859119-68.stm Pittsburgh Post-Gazette] on Kiyosaki: "Mr. Kiyosaki's and Mrs. Lechter's book series have sold more than 28 million copies worldwide since release in 1997." ([[February 21]] [[2008]]</ref> |- |[[:ja:ノンタン|ノンタン]] (''[[Nontan]]'') || [[Sachiko Kiyono]] || [[Japanese language|Japanese]] || 25 || 1976 - present || 27 million<ref>[http://www.shoten.co.jp/nisho/bookstore/shinbun/view.asp?PageViewNo=2314 Zenkoku Shoten Shinbun] (October 10, 2002)</ref> |- |''[[Curious George]]'' || [[Hans Augusto Rey]] and [[Margret Rey]] || English || 58 || 1941 - present || 27 million<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/13/books/13geor.html How Curious George Escaped the Nazis]</ref> |- |グイン・サーガ (''[[Guin Saga]]'') || [[Kaoru Kurimoto]] || Japanese || 118 || 1979 - present || 26 million<ref>[http://book.asahi.com/news/TKY200504090221.html Asahi Shimbun] (April 9, 2005)</ref> |- |''[[Captain Underpants]]'' || [[Dav Pilkey]] || English || || 1997 - present || 26 million<ref>[http://www.bigtent.tv/dragon.html Big Tent Entertainment]</ref> |- |[[:ja:三毛猫ホームズシリーズ|三毛猫ホームズシリーズ]] (''[[Mike-neko Holmes series]]'') || [[Jirō Akagawa]] || Japanese || 43 || 1978 - present || 26 million<ref>[http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/junior/articles_2003/030303.htm Yomiuri Shimbun] (March 3, 2003)</ref> |- |超図解シリーズ (''Cho-Zukai series'') || [[:ja:エクスメディア|X media]] || Japanese || || 1996&ndash;2007 || 25 million<ref>[http://www.junkudo.co.jp/detail2.jsp?ID=0106947626 Junkdo Shoten]</ref> |- |鬼平犯科帳 (''[[Onihei Hankachō]]'') || [[Shōtarō Ikenami]] || Japanese || 24 || 1968&ndash;1990 || 24.4 million, only [[bunkobon]]<ref>[http://homepage1.nifty.com/shimizumon/walk/course1/walk_01.html] (Gokujo No Tabi October 2003)</ref> |- |[[:ja:自由自在 (参考書)|自由自在]] (''Jiyu Jizai'') || various authors || Japanese || || 1953 - present || 24 million<ref>[http://www.zoshindo.co.jp/Gakusan/syoudocA.htm Zoshindo]</ref> |- |''[[Brain Quest series]]'' || various authors || English || || 1992 - present || 23.7 million<ref>[http://www.storybookcove.com/NASApp/store/Product;jsessionid=abcSzlpRBCl9BdJio5A8q?s=showproduct&isbn=0761137769 Storybook Cove<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |- |かいけつゾロリ (''[[Kaiketsu Zorori]]'') || [[Yutaka Hara]] || Japanese || 41 || 1987 - present || 23 million<ref>[http://www.asahi.com/ad/clients/origami0505/or_image/origami_poplar.pdf Asahi Shimbun] (May 5, 2005) (PDF file)</ref> |- |''[[The South Beach Diet]]'' || [[Arthur Agatston]] || English || 6 || 2003 - present || 22 million<ref>[http://www.miamiherald.com/1185/story/378534.html The Miami Herald] on the South Beach Diet books: "The South Beach Diet became a No. 1 New York Times Bestseller and the six books in the series have sold 22 million copies." ([[January 15]] [[2008]]</ref> |- |[[:ja:竜馬がゆく|竜馬がゆく]] (''[[Ryoma ga Yuku]]'') || [[Ryōtarō Shiba]] || Japanese || 5 || 1963&ndash;1966 || 21.5 million<ref>[http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-16256264_ITM Japan Inc.] (June 22, 2006)</ref> |- |[[:ja:ズッコケ三人組|ズッコケ三人組]] (''[[Zukkoke Sanningumi]]'') || [[Masamoto Nasu]] || Japanese || 50 || 1978&ndash;2004 || 21 million<ref>[http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/book/author/20070116bk01.htm Yomiuri Shimbun] (January 16, 2007)</ref> |- |''[[Maisy Mouse|Maisy]]'' || [[Lucy Cousins]] || English || 23 || 1990 - present || 20 million<ref name=rjmlicensing /> |- |''[[Dragonlance]]'' || various authors || English || over 150 || 1984 — present || 20 million<ref>[http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4260&Itemid=99 IESB.net] ([[4 February]] 2008)</ref> |- |幻魔大戦 (''[[Genma Taisen]]'') || [[Kazumasa Hirai (author)|Kazumasa Hirai]] || Japanese || 20 || 1979&ndash;1983 || 20 million<ref>[http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/mobile/articles/0504/04/news072.html IT Media Mobile] (April 4, 2005)</ref> |- |青春の門 (''[[The Gate of Youth]]'') || [[Hiroyuki Itsuki]] || Japanese || || 1970 - present || 20 million<ref> [http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fd20050320cs.html The Japan Times] ([[March 20]] 2005)</ref> |- |''[[The Foundation Trilogy]]'' || [[Isaac Asimov]] || English || 3<ref>However further 'Foundation' books were written by Asimov from 1982, extending the direct series to seven books, however these four further novels tell two largely independent stories. Ultimately many of Asimov's works join to form a single time line encompassing 20,000 years of future-history. To further add the extent of the series, a 'Second Foundation Trilogy' of books by contemporary Sci-Fi writers also explicitly join with the series.</ref> || 1950&ndash;1953 || 20 million<ref>[http://movies.ign.com/articles/036/036229p1.html IGN] June 27, 2000</ref> |} === Claims between 15 million and 20 million copies === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- bgcolor="#cccccc" !Book !! Author !! Original language !! No. of installments !! First published !! Approximate sales |- |科学のアルバム (''Kagaku no album'') || various authors || Japanese || || 1970 - present || 19 million<ref>[http://www.hon10.com/07cts/h_about/1_akanesyobo.html Akane Shobo]</ref> |- |スーパーマップル (''Super Mapple'') || various authors || Japanese || || 1991 - present || 18 million<ref>[http://www.mapple.co.jp/publ/sm.html Shobunsha] (2007)</ref> |- |[[:ja:剣客商売|剣客商売]] (''[[Kenkaku Shobai]]'') || [[Shotaro Ikenami]] || Japanese || 18 || 1972&ndash;1989 || 18 million<ref>[http://www.fujitv.co.jp/b_hp/kenkaku5/ Fuji T.V.] (2004)</ref> |- |''[[Erast Fandorin]]'' || [[Boris Akunin]] || [[Russian (language)|Russian]] || 12 || 1998 - present || 18 million <ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2007/02/25/boaku18.xml The Telegraph] on ''Erast Fandorin'': "The two authors share a quality that has seen Akunin shift 18 million copies of his Fandorin stories" ([[25 February]] [[2007]])</ref> |- |[[:ja:チャート式|チャート式]] (Chart Shiki) || various authors || Japanese || || 1927 - present || 17.44 million, only for the first grade of high-school<ref name=NKS2005 /> |- |[[:ja:少年探偵団|少年探偵団]] (''[[Shonen Tanteidan]]'') || [[Rampo Edogawa]] || Japanese || 26 || 1930&ndash;1962 || 15.3 million, only published by [[:ja:ポプラ社|Poplar Publishing]]<ref>[http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/feature/topics/newsx/news/20070611-OHT1T00010.htm Sports Hochi] ([[June 11]] 2007)</ref> |- |''[[The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency]]'' || [[Alexander McCall Smith]] || English || 9 || 1999 - present || 15 million<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7284357.stm BBC] on Alexander McCall Smith: "His books, featuring the unconventional No.1 Ladies Detective Agency, have sold 15 million copies in English, not counting the 42 languages they've been published in elsewhere." [[7 March]] [[2008]]</ref> |- |[[:ja:ぼくらの七日間戦争|ぼくらシリーズ]](''Bokura series'') || [[Osamu Soda]] || Japanese || 36 || 1985 - present || 15 million<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20030320190359/http://ch-k.kyodo.co.jp/17kyodo/number05/newsdigest.html Kyodo Tsushin](archive.org) (December 20, 2001)</ref> |- |''[[His Dark Materials]]'' || [[Philip Pullman]] || English || 3 || 1995&ndash;2000 || 15 million <ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03E7D7133DF930A25752C0A96E9C8B63&scp=1&sq=sophie+gee&st=nyt The New York Times] on ''His Dark Materials'': "''His Dark Materials,'' Philip Pullman's trilogy inspired by ''Paradise Lost,'' has sold 15 million copies worldwide, while the film version of the first volume, ''The Golden Compass,'' has earned more than $150 million." ([[13 January]] [[2008]])</ref> |- |銀河英雄伝説 (''[[Legend of the Galactic Heroes]]'') || [[Yoshiki Tanaka]] || Japanese || 14 || 1982&ndash;1989 || 15 million<ref>[http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20080424/ginga.htm Impress Watch] (April 24, 2008)</ref> |- |''Der Regenbogenfisch'' (''[[Rainbow Fish]]'') || [[Marcus Pfister]] || German || || 1992 - present || 15 million<ref>http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6359151.html?nid=2788&rid=#reg_visitor_id Publishers Weekly] (August 24, 2006)</ref> |} ===Notes=== <!--There are great differences between the number of the books published in each series. For example, although the ''[[Perry Rhodan]]'' series and the ''[[Star Wars]]'' series have each sold more books than the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' series or ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia]]'', they also have had more individual books published in their series. The ''Perry Rhodan'' series has released over 2,350 books and the ''Star Wars'' series has released over two hundred, but the ''Harry Potter'' and ''The Chronicles of Narnia'' series have only seven each. Thus, the ''Harry Potter'' series has over 50 million copies sold for every book, while the ''Perry Rhodan'' series has sold less than half a million per book, and the ''Star Wars'' series has sold just over three million per book. --> The [[Perry Rhodan]] series has over 1 billion copies sold<ref>[http://www.perry-rhodan-usa.com/web1998/rdnpres.htm Perry Rhodan 35th anniversary Press Release] (July 1996)</ref>, but is not listed as this figure includes magazine sales, not only novels sold. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is included in the list as a single entry, as it was written by Tolkien as a single novel. ==Regularly updated lists of best-selling books== * [http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/bestseller/index.html Current best-selling books (New York Times)] * [http://www.noveltracker.com NovelTracker] - best-selling thrillers, updated hourly. Also offers charts with historical sales data. * [http://booksalley.com/bAMain/bAlleyStPage.php Top 10 bestsellers] in all categories, updated daily. Lists of main literary award winners. ==See also== * [[Lists of books]] * [[Literature]] * [[Novel]] * [[List of bestselling novels in the United States]] * [[100 Most Influential Books Ever Written]] * [[List of literary works by number of languages translated into]] * [[List of best-selling fiction authors]] ==Notes== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== * [http://bestsellerever.com/ Descriptions of the bestselling books] * [http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/bestsellerFARQ.html The Internet Public Library] [[Category:Lists of books|Best-selling]] [[Category:Best sellers|Books]] [[cs:Světové bestsellery]] [[ja:ベストセラー本の一覧]] [[pt:Anexo:Lista de livros mais vendidos]]